Arizona Tramples on Bibby and USC

Another loss at Arizona was just about more than USC Coach Henry Bibby could take.

After the Trojans were beaten soundly by the 13th-ranked Wildcats, 88-73, Thursday night, Bibby refused to allow his players to talk to reporters, then ripped the crowd at McKale Center, where Arizona has won 31 consecutive games.

“They are one of the rudest crowds in the Pac-10,” Bibby said. “It makes it tough to play here. It is not good clean basketball when all they do is yell something derogatory every time we go down the floor.”

Bibby drew a crucial technical foul that helped stifle a USC rally late in the first half, and got no help from the officials after that. In the end, Arizona shot 26 more free throws than the Trojans and outscored them from the line, 35-16.

Michael Wright, who was 14 for 18 at the line, matched his career high with 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Arizona (21-6, 12-5 in conference) snapped a two-game losing skid.

Wright’s fellow freshman, Ruben Douglas, scored a career-best 19 and Jason Terry added 18 points and eight assists as the Wildcats won their 14th straight over the Trojans at McKale.

USC (14-12, 6-11) trailed by as many as 17 in the first half and had cut the deficit to 10 when Terry stole the ball and was fouled by Shannon Swillis on a layup try with 1:05 left before the break.

Bibby got a technical foul for protesting the call. Terry made all four free throws to make the score 40-26, then Justin Wessel scored inside to put the Wildcats ahead 42-26 at the break.